Electrical switch



July 30, 1946. D, HARFORD 2,405,035

A ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Oct. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR.

BY l.

July 30, 1946. D, L, HARFORD 2,405,035

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed 00?.. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FL?? 3B M38 5U will i '7l/ll, 33 33 FLO- Fil/0S 2 OF'F' Pos1-nou F'LFISH Pos1-non. ON PosmoN ATTORNEY.

Patented July 30, 1946 ELECTRICAL SWITCH Dwight L. Harford, Downey, Calif., assgnor to A. Parley Johnson, Downey, Calif..

Application October 5, 1943, Serial No. 504,992

l 16 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical switches and while capable of general use is particularly adapted for use with illuminating devices, such as, portable lanterns, flash-lights, and the like.

One object of the present invention is to provide an electrical switch of novel construction for` effecting continuous and intermittent lighting of a portable lantern', flash-light, and other similar device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical switch having a movable control member which is at all times biased to inoperative position by the circuit completing means through novel arrangement of the latter.

Another object is to provide an electrical switch having novel cam means for controlling continuous and intermittent operation of an illuminating device, and for preventing accidental operation of said device.

'Ihese and other objects of the present invention` will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand said invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portable lantern embodying the present invention, with one-half of a twc` part handle removed for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of the electrical switch means illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective View of the base member constituting a part of the switch means;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail top plan View of the cam disc for controlling the oi ash and on positions of the switch;

Fig, '7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View on line I-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view (Cl. 20D- 159) ULO 2 l Y ence characters designate like parts throughou the several views, 5 indicates the base and battery box of a portable lantern having pivotally mounted thereon as at 6 a U-shaped two-part hollow; cylindrical handle l (Fig. l). The battery box 5 and handle I are both made of nonconducting material, such as, for example, Tenite or other suitable plastic composition. The handle 'I supports a reflector 8, a lens 9, and a lens-guard I0. Slidably mounted in the lower portion ofthe handle 'l is a metal tube I-I provided at one end thereof with a socket I2A to receive a lamp I3. Extending through the metal tube II is one end of an armoredV cable I4 around which is an insulatingv bushing I5 provided with an enlarged head I6 that is disposed within the socket I2. The internal copper leadof the cable t4 extends through the head I 6 cf the bushing I5 and is beaded as at I'I for engagement by the beaded contact end of the lamp I3.

From the tube II the cable I4 extends rearwardly and upwardly around the handle l interiorly thereof and then forwardly along the upper portion of said handle. The cable I4 is guided by a curved guide I8 which is formed integrally with. the handle 1. The tubev Il has continuously engaged therewith one end of a springbrass contact member I9 the opposite end of which is connectedl with one side of a battery (not shown) contained within the battery box 5. The opposite side of the battery has connected therewith a spring-brass contact member 20 which extends therefrom into continuous engagement with the armored outer covering of the cable I4.

With the construction thus far described, it will be apparent that when the cable I4 is advanced or retracted, like movement will be imparted thereby to the tube I I and lamp I3, thus adjusting the latter to the desired focus within the reector 8. The portable lantern previously described is` of the same general type disclosed in the United States Patent No. 2,228,009 granted January 7, 1941, to Dwight L. Harford.

In accordance with the present invention, novel switch means are provided whereby the lamp I3 may be used continuously for some appreciable time, or in an intermittent manner for signalling purposes, said switch means at the same time serving as the means for advancing and retracting the cable I4 to focus the lamp I3 as hereinbefore described. As herein shown, said switch means is preferably mounted, constructed and operated in the following manner, and the elements hereinafter described and constituting the switch means are, unless otherwise specified,

3 made of non-conducting material, such as, for example, Tenite or other suitable plastic composition.

Mounted on the upper portion of handle 'I for horizontal sliding movement relative thereto is a plate or base member 2| provided on the top side thereof with two axially alined bosses 22 and 23, the boss 22 being of less height and of greater diameter than the boss 23 (Fig. 5). Boss 22 is provided on the top side thereof with ak pair of diametrically opposite cam surfaces 2d surrounding the boss 23 and which are inclined downwardly and terminate in a pair of diametrically opposite shoulders or abutments 25. Engaged over boss 23 and rotatable in a horizontal plane relative to said boss and the boss 22 is a disc 23 (Figs. 3, 6 and '7) provided on the underside thereof with two diametrically opposite lugs or ears 21 that project downwardly into engagement with the cam surfaces 24. Disc 26 is further provided on the top side thereof with a cam ring 28 surrounding the boss 23 and having formed thereon a pair of diametrically opposite cam surfaces 29 which are inclined downwardly in the same direction as cam surfaces 24 and terminate in a pair of diametrically opposite shoulders or abutments 39. Cam ring 28 has also formed thereon two diametrically opposite notches or recesses 3l (Figs. 6 and 7) which are disposed intermediate the ends of the cam surfaces 29.

Disc 29 is held against endwise displacement from the boss 23 by a disc 32 (Figs. 3 and 8) provided on the underside thereof with a pair of diametrically opposite lugs or ears 33 that project downwardly into engagement with the cam surfaces 29. Disc 32 is secured to the top of boss 23 by two spaced contact screws or posts 34 and 35 of good conducting metal, such as' brass, that extend downwardly through suitable openings in said disc, the boss 23, boss 22 and plate 2I, and are threaded in suitable threaded openings in a block 3B. Block 36 is disposed within handle 1 and formed with a reduced upper end 3'I which vextends into a slot 33 formed in said handle. Block 36 thus holds plate 2| and the various parts carried thereby in position on handle l, and permits horizontal sliding movement of said plate and said ports as a unit relative tosaid handle for purposes to be hereinafter described. The free end of cable I4 extends into a suitable opening formed in block 36 and is secured therein by the screws 34 and 35 which engage the internal copper lead and the armored outer covering, respectively, of said cable. Rotation'is imparted to disc 26 by a cap 39 which is engaged over the disc 32 and boss 23 and secured in any suitable manner to the disc 26.

Novel means are provided for completing the circuit to lamp I3, said means also serving to raise the cap 39 and disc 29, and hold the cam ring 29 in engagement with the lugs 33. As herein shown, said means preferably comprises two superposed resilient contact strips 49 and 4I (Figs. 3, 4, 9 and of good conducting metal, such as springbronze, which are secured to disc 32 by the contact screw 34, and are somewhat semi-elliptical in shape, or bent or curved in opposite directions away from each other. Strip 159 extends from screw 34 upwardly into engagement with cap 39 interiorly thereof, and then downwardly over to and above screw 35. Strip III normally extends from screw 34 over to and above screw 35 and then upwardly into engagement with the free end of strip 49 Strips 49 and di are first secured to disc 32 with their screw receiving ends in flat l condition, and before cap 39 is attached t0 disc 29, and then bent upwardly and over the head of screw 34 and toward screw 35. Strips 40 and 4I thus provide the means for completing the circuit to lamp I3 through engagement of strip 4l with screw 35, and also provide means of double tension for raising cap 39 to circuit breaking position.

It will thus be noted that when cap v35i-and disc 29 are rotated counter-clockwise, as'viewed in Fig. l1, to the position shown in said figure which is the safety off position to render the switch inoperable, the lugs 2l will, through likewise rotation of cam ring 28, ride up and along cam surfaces 29 until abutments 39 engage the lugs 33 at which point the latter will be engaged with the low parts of cam surfaces 29, and the lugs 2l will be engaged with the high parts of cam surfaces 24 adjacent the shoulders 25 thereof. Cap 39 and disc 23 will thus be held against further rotation in said direction by lugs 33, and against accidental downward movement through engagement of lugs 2T with the high parts of cam surfaces 2/3 to complete the circuit to lamp I3.

When it is desired to use the lamp intermittently as, for signalling purposes, cap 39 and disc 26 are rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1l, a quarter turn or from the safety oli position to the position shown in Fig. 12, whereupon lugs 21 will, through engagement of lugs 33 with the rising cam surfaces 29, ride down and along cam surfaces 29 until notches 3l in cam surfaces 29 snap into engagement with the lugs 33, thus automatically determining the switch signaling position, and rendering the switch operable to intermittently complete the circuit to lamp I3 by a slight downward pressure of the thumb applied intermittently on cap 39. Upon downward movement of cap 39, strip 3l is moved into engagement with screw 35 through Strip 49, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4, thereby completing the circuit to lamp I3 through the copper lead of cable I4 which, as hereinbefore described, is connected with one side of the battery, the screw 34, the strip 4I, the screw 35, and the armored outer covering of said cable which, as hereinbefore described, is connected with the opposite side of the battery. When thumb pressure on cap 39 is released the strips 39 and il raise said cap and disc 23, the strip 4l at the same time moving out of engagement with screw 35 to break the circuit to lamp I3.

When it is desired to use the lamp for any length of time, cap 39 and disc 26 are rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, approximately one-half a revolution or from the safety off to the positive shown in Fig. 13 on position, whereupon lugs 2'! will, through engagement of lugs 33 with the rising cam surfaces 29, ride down and along cam surfaces 24 until they engage the abutments 25, thereby arresting the rotation of said disc and cap, and automatically determining the positive on position of the switch. At this time cap 39, through engagement of lugs 33 with the high parts of cam-surfaces 29 adjacent shoulders 39, will'have moved downwardly suiiicient to move strip 4l into engagement with screw 35, thereby completing the circuit to lamp I3 as hereinbefore described, and holding said circuit closed -for any desired length of time.

- There is thus provided a simple and inexpensive electrical switch whereby continuous'and intermittent lighting of a portable lantern, nashlight and other similar device may be quickly and easily effected. Also, the effective operating positions of the switch, as well as the non-operating or safety oli position of said switch, are automatically determined upon rotation oi the switch manipulating cap, thereby eliminating guessing on the part of the operator. The present invention also embodies novel circuit completing means, as the contact strips 40 and 4l, which also serve as the means for moving the switch manipulating cap to circuit breaking position.

-' Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly7 understoodv that changes may be made therein, 'particularlyvin the design and arrangement of the parts illustrated, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be clear to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference is had primarily to the appended claims.

4 What is claimed is:

l.. In a switch of the class described, a base member having two spaced contacts thereon, a cap mounted on said base member for movement toward and away from said contacts, and resilient means secured to one of said contacts and extending therefrom toward the other of said contacts and into engagement with said cap, movement of the cap toward the contacts being effective to engage said means with the other of said spaced contacts to complete an electric circuit,

said resilient means comprising two superposed strips, one of said strips extending upwardly from said iirst-named contact into engagement with said cap and downwardly from the latter toward and above the other of said contacts, and the other of said strips extending toward and above said other contact and spaced from said first-named strip and having its free end bent upwardly for engagement with the free end of said rst-named strip.

2. In a switch of the class described, a base member having two spaced contacts thereon, a cap mounted on said base member for movement toward and away from said contacts, and resilient means for moving the cap away from the contacts and for connecting the latter to complete an electric circuit upon movement of said cap toward said contacts, comprising two superposed strips having corresponding ends secured to one of said spaced contacts and opposite extreme ends engaged with each other, and being spaced apart intermediate the ends thereof.

3. In a switch of the class described, a base member having two spaced contacts thereon, a cap mounted on said base member for movement toward and away from said contacts, and resilient means interposed between said cap and said contacts for moving the cap away from the con tacts and for connecting the latter to complete an electric circuit upon movement of said cap toward said contacts, said resilient means comprising two superposed strips having corresponding ends secured to one of said contacts, one of said strips extending upwardly from said last-named contact and over the latter into engagement with said .cap and downwardly from said cap toward and above the other of said contacts, and the other of said strips extending over said iirst-named contact and substantially at right angles to the latter to and above said other contact, said last-named strip being bent upwardly at its free end for engagement with the free end of said first-named strip.

4. In a switch of the class described, a base member having two spaced contacts thereon, a cap mounted on the base member for movement toward and away from said contacts and for rotation relatively to said base member, resilient means interposed 4between said cap and said contacts for moving the cap away from the contacts and for connecting the latter to complete an electric circuit upon movement of said cap toward said contacts, and cam means controlling the movement of the cap toward and away from the contacts through rotation of said cap.

5. In a switch of the class described, a base member having two spaced contacts thereon, a cap mounted on the base member for movement toward and away from said contacts and for rotation in opposite directions to two predetermined positions, resilient means interposed between said cap and said contacts for moving the cap away from the contacts and for connecting the latter to complete an electric circuit upon movement of said cap toward said contacts, and cam means on the cap for controlling the movement thereof toward and away from the contacts and for controlling the rotation of said cap to said positions.

6. In a switch of the class described, a base member having two spaced contacts thereon, a cap mounted on the base member for movement toward and away from said contacts and for rotation in opposite directions to two predetermined positions and to a third predetermined position intermediate said rst named positions, resilient means interposed between said cap and said contacts for moving the cap away from the contacts and for connecting the latter to complete an electrie circuit upon movement of said cap toward said contacts, and cam means on the base member and the cap for controlling the movement of the latter toward and away from the contacts and for controlling the rotation of said cap to said posi'- tions.

"7. In a switch of the class described, a base plate of non-conducting material having a boss on the upper face thereof, two spaced metal confacts extending above said boss and through the latter and said base plate, a cap of non-conducting material disposed over the contacts and surrounding said boss, and resilient means interposed between said boss and said cap for moving the latter away from the contacts and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon movement of the cap toward `said contacts, comprising two superposed metal strips having corresponding ends secured to one of said spaced contacts and opposite extreme ends engaged with each other, and being spaced apart intermediate the ends thereof.

8. In a switch of the class described, a base plate of non-conducting material having a boss on the upper face thereof, two spaced metal contacts extending above said boss and through the latter and-said base plate, a cap of non-conducting material disposed over the contacts and surrounding said boss, resilient means interposed between said .boss and said cap for moving the latter away from the contacts and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit .each other, and being spaced apart intermediate the ends thereof, and cammeans of non-conducting material for controlling the movement of the cap toward and away from the contacts.

9. A switch mechanism comprising a base having two spaced contacts thereon, a rotatable disc mounted on said base for relative rotary and `linear movements, a disc fixed on said base in superposed relation with said rotatable disc, means on one of said discs providing two diametrically opposite cam surfaces, means on the other of said discs and engaged with said cam surfaces for effecting linear movement of said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter, means for rotating said. rotatable disc, and resilient means for biasingy said rotatable disc toward said xed discand for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon linear movement of rotatable disc.v

10. A switch mechanism comprising a base having two spaced contacts thereon, a rotatable disc mounted on said base for relative linear movement and for rotation in opposite directions, said disc being formed on one side thereof with twoy diametrically opposite cam surfaces inclined in the same direction and terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders, a disc xed on said base and having two diametrically opposite lugs adapted to engage said cam surfaces to effect linear movement oi said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter in one of said directions and to engage said shoulders to limit the extent of rotation of said rotatable disc in the other of ksaid directions, means for rotating said rotatable disc, and resilient means for biasing said rotatable disc toward said xed disc and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon linear movement of said rotatable disc.

A switch mechanism comprising a base having two spaced contacts thereon, a rotatable disc mounted on said base for relative rotation in opposite directions to two end positions and to a third position intermediate said end positions and for relative upward. and downward movements, said disc being formed on the upper side thereof with two diametrically opposite cam surfaces terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders and provided intermediate the ends thereof with two diametrically opposite recesses, a disc iixed on said base and disposed above said rotatable disc in spaced relation therewith, said I xed disc beingformed with two diametrically opposite downwardly projecting lugs adapted to engage said cam surfaces and effect downward movement of said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter to one of said end positions and to engage said shoulders and said recesses upon rotation of said rotatable disc to the other of said end positions and to said third positiony respectively, means for rotating said rotatable disc, and resilient means for biasing said rotatable disc upwardly toward said xed disc and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric current upon downward movement of said rotatable disc.

l2. A switch mechanism comprising a base having two spaced contacts thereon, a rotatable disc mounted on said base for relative rotation in opposite directions to two end positions and to a third position intermediate said end positions and for relative upward and downward movements, said disc being formed on the upper side thereof with two diametrically opposite cam surfaces terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders and provided intermediate the ends thereof with two diametrically opposite recesses, a disc ixed on said base and disposed above said rotatable disc in spaced relationl therewith, said Xed disc being formed with twor diametrically opposite downwardly projecting lugs adapted to engage said cam surfaces and effect downward movement oi said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter to one of said end positions, and to engage said shoulders and said recesses upon rotation of said rotatable disc to the other of said end positions and to said third position, respectively, means for rotating said rotatable disc, resilient means for biasing said rotatable disc upwardly toward said iixed disc and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon downward movement of said rotatable disc, and means on the underside of said rotatable disc and engaged with said base for holding said disc against downward movement when said lugs are engaged with said shoulders.

13. A switch mechanism comprising a base having two spaced contacts thereon, a rotatable disc mounted on said` base for relative rotation in opposite directions to two end. positions and for relative upward and downward movements, said disc being formed on the top side thereof with two diametrically opposite cam surfaces inclined in the same direction and terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders, a disc xed on said base and disposed above said rotatable disc in spaced relation therewith, said fixed disc having two diametrically opposite downwardly projecting lugs adapted to engage Said cam surfaces and effect downward movement of said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter to one of said end positions and to engage said shoulders upon rotation of said rotatable disc to the other of said end positions, means for rotating said rotatable disc, resilient means for biasing said rotatable disc upwardly toward said fixed disc and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon downward movement of said rotatable disc, and means for limiting the extent of rotation of said rotatable disc to said rstnamed end position and for holding said rotatable disc against downward movement when the latter is rotated to said second-named end position and said lugs are engaged with said shoulders, said last-named means comprising two diametrically opposite cam surfaces formed on said base inclined in the same direction as said rstnamed cam surfaces and terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders, and two diametrically opposite downwardly projecting lugs formed on the underside of said rotatable disc and adapted to engage said shoulders when said rotatable disc is rotated to said rst-named end position and to engage said cam surfaces adjacent said shoulders when said rotatable disc is rotated to said second-named position.

14. A switch mechanism comprising a base member having an upwardly extending circular boss thereon, a, rotatable disc engaged over said boss and having two diametrically opposite cam surfaces on the upper side thereof inclined in the same direction and terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders, a disc fixed on the upper end of said boss and having two diametricaliy opposite downwardly projecting lugs thereon adapted to engage said cam surfaces and effect downward movement of said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter in one direction and to engage said shoulders upon rotation of said rotatable disc in the opposite direction, a cap engaged over said fixed disc and said boss and secured to said rotatable disc for rotating the latter, two spaced contacts carried by said boss and projecting above said xed disc, and resilient means disposed between said fixed disc and said cap for normally biasing the latter to raised position and holding said rotatable disc in engagement with said lugs and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon downward movement of said cap and said rotatable disc.

15. A switch mechanism comprising a base member having an upwardly extending circular boss thereon, a rotatable disc engaged over said boss and rotatable in opposite directions to two end positions and to a third position intermediate said end positions, said disc being formed on the upper side thereof with two diametrically opposite cam surfaces inclined in the same direction and terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders and provided intermediate the ends thereof with two diametrically opposite recesses, a disc fixed on the upper end of said boss and having two diametrically opposite downwardly projecting lugs adapted to engage said cam surfaces and effect downward movement of said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter to one of said end positions and to engage said shoulders and said recesses upon rotation of said rotatable disc to the other of said end positions and to said third position, respectively, a cap engaged over said fixed disc 4and said boss and secured to said rotatable disc for rotating vthe latter, two spaced contacts carried by said boss and projecting above said xed disc, and resilient means disposed between said fixed disc and said cap for normally biasing the latter and said rotatable disc to raised positions and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon downward movement of said cap and said rotatable disc.

16. A switch mechanism comprising a base member having an upwardly extending circular boss and two diametrically opposite cam surfaces surrounding said boss inclined in the same direction and terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders, a rotatable disc engaged over said boss and rotatable in opposite directions to two end positions, said disc being formed on the upper side thereof with two diametrically opposite cam surfaces inclined in the same direction as said first-named cam surfaces and terminating in two diametrically opposite shoulders, a disc fixed on the upper end of said boss and having two diametrically opposite downwardly projecting lugs thereon adapted to engage said second-named cam surfaces and effect downward movement of said rotatable disc upon rotation of the latter to one of said end positions and to engage said second-named shoulders upon rotation of said rotatable disc to the other of said end positions, two diametrically opposite downwardly projecting lugs on the lower side of said rotatable disc adapted to engage said first-named shoulders when said rotatable disc is rotated to said firstnamed end position and to engage said firstnamed cam surfaces adjacent said shoulders when said rotatable disc is rotated to said secondnamed end position, a cap engaged over said iixed disc and said boss and secured to said rotatable disc for rotating the latter, two spaced contacts carried by said boss and projecting above said fixed disc, and resilient means disposed between said xed disc and said cap for normally biasing the latter and said rotatable disc to raised positions and for connecting said contacts to complete an electric circuit upon downward movement of said cap and said rotatable disc.

DWIGHT L. HARFORD. 

